Pocket implement



Dec. 4, 1951 FIG.

J. VAN H. WHIPPL ET AL POCKET IMPLEMENT Filed Oct. 16 1947 l//Illllll'lyl/ Imam-"N FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

JACK VAN H. WH|PPLE GERALD P. KAMMERER .66@ CLA: @M

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,577,056 POCKETIMPLEMENT Application October 16, 1947, Serial No. 780,130

7 Claims.

This invention is directed to a pocket implement, and more particularlyto a slidable blade knife adapted to be carried in or clipped to theusers pocket. While the following description is specifically directedto a twin-bladed knife, it will be understood that in the place of ablade, anyl other desirable tool, such as a nail file or a pair ofscissors may be used.

We have found that a knife of the type here under consideration shouldbe characterized by two important features over and above others ofperhaps lesser importance. In the first place, the knife must besufciently light so that when it is clipped to a breast or vest pocket,it will not cause that portion of the garment to sag. Secondly, theknife must be of suflicient sturdiness, although light in weight, thatwhen the blade is extended for use, it is rigidly and firmly held inextended position by its surrounding casing. In many commercial forms ofsuch knives that We have seen, the knife blade is so sloppily supportedby its casing as to detract from the usefulness of the knife andsubstantially to impair its sales potentialities. Then too, such a knifemust be easily operable, should be inexpensive to manufacture, andshould present a good appearance.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a knifeof the above nature which attains the several aforementioned ends in athoroughly practical and efcient manner.

In accordance with one form of our invention, the knife includes asubstantially U-shaped cas ing, the side Walls of which are providedwith shoulders comprising ways upon which the cornmon shank of the twinblades is slidably supported.` The casing side walls are respectivelychanneled throughout their length, and these channels respectivelyreceive the opposite sides or edges of a back plate, which back plate,together with the aforementioned shoulders, form another pair ofchannels within the casing which slidably receive the longitudinal edgesof the shank. The blade shank has an opening formed therein in which isloosely received a blade actuating and locking element. This elementincludes portions which extend from the shank through suitable openingsformed in the back plate of the knife, which openings coact with theelement to lock the blades in any one of their several adjustedpositions, or to permit movement of the blades thereto. Disposed betweenthe blade shank and the front wall of the knife casing is an elongatedspring having raised. portions adjacent the different locked positionsof the shank, and these raised portions of the spring are adapted toengage the locking element to force it into locking position relative tothe back plate of the casing.

In the drawing, wherein we have shown one form of our knife,

Figure l is a side view of the knife with the blade extended from oneend thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rear side of the knife with portionsofthe back plate and the knife casing being broken away and shown insection;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the knife with the back plate removedand portions of the locking spring and casing broken away and shown insection;

- Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along theline 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line E-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'l-l of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 4;

Figure l0 is a sectional view taken along the line lli-I0 of Figure 3;and,

Figure 1l is a sectional view taken along the line II-H of Figure 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar.

parts throughout the views of the drawing.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the knife comprises asubstantially U-shaped casing, generally indicated at 20, comprising afront wall 2l (Figure 9), side walls 22 and 23, and a back wall or plate24, these severalwalls enclosing a blade unit generally indicated at 25(Figure 2) which is operable between extended and retracted positionsrelative to the casing. Casing 2i) is preferably an integral casting ofaluminum or other light-weight material. Pivotally secured to one end ofthe knife is an attaching clip 26,

which may resemble in construction and operation that shown in thecopending application of Whipple and Topa, Serial No. 731,938, filedMarch 3, 1947.

As shown in Figure 9, casing 20 has a bottom surface 2l, while theinside of casing walls 22 and 2S are provided respectively withshoulders 23 and 2i?. Above these shoulders the casing side walls arerespectively provided with channels 3f! and 3|, within which thelongitudinal edges of back plate 24 are received. These two channels, aswell as shoulders 28 and 29, are coextensive longitudinally of the knifecasing, and the shoulders, together with the back plate, providelongitudinal channels 32 and 33 within which the blade unit 25 isslidably disposed (see Figure 8).

Blade unit 25 (Figure 2) comprises a pair of blades 34 and 35, which areforged integral with and extend from the opposite ends of a common shank36. As shown in Figure 8, the width of shank 3S closely approximates thedistance between the end or bottom surfaces of channels 32 and 33(Figure 9) while the thickness of shank 36 (Figure 8) closelyapproximates the width of these channels. Thus it follows that therelation between the blade shank and the channels is that of a closesliding iit which is, however, free enough readily to permit slidingmovement of the shank within the case while preventing any movement ofthe shank in the case, other than longitudinal sliding movement. Thus,whether the blade unit is in extended or retracted position, it isrigidly held against any transverse movement relative tothe-longitudinal axis of the casing.

As shown in Figure 10, back plate 24 comprises longitudinal edgeportions 37 and 38 which lie in a general plane slightly spaced from butparallel to the general plane of the central or body portion 39 of theback plate, thus providing shank suporting surfaces Sla and 37b whichare respectively juxtaposed to shoulders 28 and 25 to form channels 32and 33 described above. It should also be noted that the oifsetrelationship of back plate edge portions 3i and 38 to the central orbody portion 39 of the back plate substantially rigidity the back plate,the edge portions th-us acting in a reinforcing capacity. Thus the backplate may be stamped from relatively thin sheet metal so that while itis light in weight, it is both strong and rigid. By so forming thecasing, it will appear that assembly of the blade unit and the backplate is but a simple matter, as the blade unit is easily disposed inthe casing against shoulders 28 and 29, whereupon back plate 24 may beslide into position by inserting its longitudinal edges in channels 35and 3l. When the back plate has been slide into its Figure 4 position,it may be detachably secured therein by a pair of pins or screws 48 and4l which extend respectively through holes in the casing side wall andupstruck end portions 24a and 2412 of the back plate.

As shown in Figure 3, blade shank 36 is centrally apertured as at 42,and this aperture may conveniently be rectangular in form. Aperture 42receives a blade actuating and locking member, generally indicated at 43which, as is more clearly shown in Figure '7, comprises a body portion44', from the bottom of which extends a peripheral flange 45 (see alsoFigure 4), the length and width of which exceeds the length and width ofaperture 42, which limits movement of element 43 to the left, as viewedin Figure 7, by virtue of the flange abutting the bottom of shank 3S.Extending from the other side of body portion 44 is a neck 46 on the endof which is carried a ngerpiece 4l, the top of which is preferablyknurled (see Figure ll). The opposed surfaces of ngerpiece 4'! and bodyportion 44 (Figure 7) together with neck (4t, form a pair of channels 48and 49 in the locking element 43 for a purpose which will be hereinafterdescribed.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, back plate 24 has cut therein apair of slots 50 and 5l. which are laterally offset, as shown. Also cutin back plate 24 are end openings 52 and 53, and a central opening 54.The end openings communicate respectively with the outer ends of slots59 and 5l, the inner ends of these slots communicating with opening 54.The length and width of openings 52, 53 and 54 slightly exceed thelength and width of iingerpiece 4l of the operating and locking element4S so that the fingerpiece may readily be extended through any one ofthe openings. The length and width of these openings also slightlyexceed the length and width of body portion 44 (Figure 7) of lockingelement 43, so as to be able to receive the body portion to lock theblade unit in any one of its adjusted positions.

Slots 55 and 5l are slightly wider than neck 46 of locking element 43,while channels 48 and on the opposite sides of the neck are slightlywider than the thickness of back plate 24, so that the portions of theback plate on opposite sides of the slots 50 and 5I may ridetherewithin.

It may now be seen that when locking element 4'3 is depressed into theknife casing to a point where the portions of the back plate adjacentslot 5D, for example, register with channels 48 and 49 of the lockingelement, the locking element may be moved out of whichever opening 52 or54 it may have been in, and slid longitudinally of the back plate. This,of course, carries shank 35 and accordingly blade unit 25 with it, sothat the blade unit may be moved from one adjusted position to theother. When the blade unit has been moved to the desired position, bodyportion 44 of locking element 43 registers with one of the aforesaidopenings, e. g. opening 52, and may be extended through the opening,thus to lock the blade in the corresponding position. When lockingelement 43 extends through opening 54 (Figure 2) the blade unit iscompletely retracted within the housing. If then it is desired to extendblade 34, locking element 43 is moved transversely of the longitudinalaxis of back plate 24 in opening 54, until its neck 46 (Figure 8)registers with slot 50. The locking element may then be depressed untilits body portion 44 clears and underlies the back plate, so that it,together with the blade unit, may be slid longitudinally of the casing.Of course, if it is desired to extend blade 35 from the other end ofthev knife, the locking element is moved in opening 54 transversely ofthe back plate in the opposite direction so that its neck may registerwith slot 5|. It Should be noted that opening 54' is wider than openings52 and 53 so as to permit the aforesaid transverse movements.

It is, of course, desirable that when the blade has been slid into anyof its adjusted positions, the locking element operates automatically tolock the blade. Furthermore, it is desirable that the blade be held inlocked position with reasonable security so that it is not released fromsuch position through inadvertence. To this end, with reference toFigure 4, we have cut out the bottom of casing 2G to provide recesses55, 56 and 51, between which the casing bottom is channeled, as at 58and 59. Within these channels is disposed an elongated leaf spring,-generally indicated at 6U, having bent-up portions 6|, 62 and 63 whichrespectively overlie recesses 55, 56 and 5T. Spring 6!! may, if desired,be secured within its channels in any suitable manner, but, in anyevent. the spring is preferably notched as at 64 (Figure 3) and thesenotches register with bosses 65. or the like. in the bottom of thecasing to asv-7,056

preclude relative movement of the. spring longitudinally of the casing,thus to maintain spring portions 6|, '62 and 63 in proper operativeposition. 1

Thus the spring (Figure 4) is xedly disposed in the easing bottombeneath the blade unit 25 with its upraised portions in such -a positionas to underlie openings 52, 53, and 54 in back plate 24. It accordinglyfollows that when the blade unit is manipulated to any one of itsadjusted positions, as heretofore described, locking element 43 willoverlie one or another of upraised portions 6i, 62 and 63 of spring 60.Thus, for example, with the locking element overlying spring portion 5l,this portion of the spring is somewhat depressed into recess 55, andaccordingly exerts an upward bias on the locking element, forcing itsbody portion 44 into back plate opening 52 and holding it there againstinadvertent release, thus to lock blade unit 25 in one of its extendedadjusted positions. In like manner, spring portion 63 coacts withlocking element 43 to lock the blade unit in its other extended positionwhile spring portion 62 coacts with the locking element to hold theblade unit retracted within the casing.

To effect release of the blade unit for movement from any one of its setpositions to another, locking element 43 is depressed against the forceof the particular upraised spring portion with which it is inengagement, until the locking element channels 48 and 49 (Figure 7)register with the back plate to permit movement of the element into oneor another of slots 50, 5| (Figure 2). t may therefore be seen that noportion of the spring directly engages any portion of the blade unit,thus permitting the blade unit to be freely slid to any one of itsadjusted positions. On the other hand, one or another of the upraisedspring portions engages the locking element when it is actuated into oneor another of its locking positions, and this spring pressure is exertedthrough the locking element on the blade unit, and accordingly coactswith the casing channels to rigidly support the blade unit in any lonerof its adjusted positions. It also follows that movement of theblade unit is confined to longitudinal movement one Way or another inthe casing, so that the blade never moves transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the casing, this in coni" tradistinction toconventional practice in knives of this character. This, of course,lends to the stability and rigidity of the knife as a Whole, and addsgreatly to its usefulness and longevity of service.

Accordingly we have provided a knife which attains the several objectsset forth hereinabove in a thoroughly practical and efcient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above setforth, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. A knife comprising, in combination, a generally U-shaped casingcomprising front and side walls, each of said side walls having alongitudinally extending blade shank supporting shoulder", each of saidside Walls also having a longitudinally extending channel formedtherein, a blade having a shank portion slidably mounted on saidshoulders, and a back plate having its longitudinal edges disposedrespectively in said vside-wall channels for retaining said lshankportion on said shoulders.

2. A knife comprising, in combination, a; cas-- ing having front, backand side walls, a blade having a shank portion slidably disposed in saidcasing, a blade actuatingk and locking element .loosely mounted in andcarried by said shank portion, said casing back wall having alongitudinal slot formed therein, said slot being widened at itsextremities and atV an intermediate portion thereof, the slot sectionbetween the inter'- mediate widened portion and one of the end widenedportions being out of alignment with the slot vsection between theintermediate widened portionand the other of the end widened portions,said element including a portion extending through said slot and aportion adapted to be received in any one of the widened portions ofsaid slot to lock said blade in any one of its several adjustedpositions, said element being movable transversely of said slot when insaid intermediate widened portion so that it may be registered with oneor the other of said slot sections depending on which way it is to bemoved, and a spring member disposed in said casing between said frontwall and said blade and adapted to engage said blade actuating elementwhen it is in register with any one of said widened portions to forcesaid element into blade locking position.

3. A knife in accordance with claim l, wherein said back plate includeslongitudinal portions adjacent the edges which are disposed in saidchannels which with said supporting shoulders form blade shank receivingchannels within which said blade shank may slide with a close slidingfit thereby to conne the blade and its shank to longitudinal movementonly relative to said casing.

4. A knife in accordance with claim 1, Wherein said back plate includeslongitudinal portions adjacent the edges which are disposed in saidchannels which with said supporting shoulders form blade shank receivingchannels within which said blade shank may slide with a close sliding tthereby to coni-lne the blade and its shank to longitudinal movementonly relative to said casing, the central portions of the inner side ofsaid back plate being relieved and spaced from said shank so as to becompletely out of engagement therewith and with said blade during thesliding movement of both.

5. A knife comprising, in combination, a casing having front, back andside Walls, a blade having a shank portion slidably disposed in saidcasing, a blade actuating and locking element mounted on and carried bysaid shank portion, said casing back wall having a longitudinal slotformed therein, said element including a portion extending through saidslot to a position accessible for manual operation, and a spring memberdisposed in said casing between said front wall and said blade, saidspring member having longitudinally spaced portions adapted to engagesaid blade actuating element in its different adjusted positions onlylongitudinally of said knife for locking said bladeI in its adjustedposition.

6. A knife according to claim 5, wherein said blade actuating andlocking element is loosely mounted on the shank portion of the blade soas to be movable relative thereto in directions normal to thelongitudinal axis of said blade.

7. A knife comprising in combination, a casing having front, back andside walls, a blade 7 having a shank portion slidably disposed in saidcasing, a blade actuating and locking element loosely mounted in andcarried by said shank portion, said casing back wall having alongitudinal slot formed therein, said slot being widened at itsextremities and at at least one intermediate portion thereof,` saidelement including a portion extending through said slot and a portionadapted to be received in any one of the widened portions of said slotto lock said blade in any one 1 widened portions to force said elementinto blade looking position.

JACK VAN H. WHIPPLE. GERALD P. KAMMERER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS y Number Name Date 1,403,281 Anover Jan. 10, 19221,546,709 Bott July 21, 1925 1,853,672 Dodson Apr. 12, 1933 l5 1,960,130Trubel May 22, 1934

